Thread: First successfull shave!

Ryan- As a fellow newbie-Shavette learner, I'll pass on what I have learned in the month or so using the Shavette. I started with the shorts and tore my face up, so I went to the long blades and it was easier.

1. I started shaving in increments. First learned to do my cheeks. Started with only my right hand and now I can do left hand as well comfortably. As I got more comfortable with an area, then I would do something else- neck, adams apple, chin (still have some problems with that!). It was a joyous day when I first connected the areas- left side to right side.

2. I find a moderate amount of pressure is needed. A bit lighter with a fresh blade. I use short strokes.

3. Lubrication is life. I will touch up the lather mid-shave on areas that overlap. Use a good soap, which you are. I like the Taylor creams and Col Conk's products.

4. Inattentiveness will cause you grief. I laid my chin open the other day with a 1/4 gash that bled like you read about. Go slowly. Have a styptic pencil handy. I will still get myself now and then, but the bloodless days are now more frequent.

5. I can now do a second shaving with the shavette after I rinse and relather. I actually find the second pass easier, but don't get complacement. I will still touch up with my trusty mach 3, but as I get more confident and used to the shavette, I find that I'm using it less.

When I finally understand what I'm doing, I've got my wife's Grandad's Henckle waiting for me. Work has me scheduled to go to Poland in June, so I will probably look for a Wapienica. I'm also wanting to get a japanese blade.

Sounds like you're on the right track. Make it a ritual and it gets even better!

r/Barry

Thanks Barry,

yes, I'm a few shaves in now and loving it. I took to it fairly quickly I think, although I'm still hunting for a perfect shave.

I lather up in between as well. My beard is coarse, and a dry shave is an impossibility without some major pain.

I'm popping in a new blade tonight, so I'll be starting the curve with a little more respect for the shavette!

I picked up an old Boker straight I'm cleaning up. We'll see how that goes, but I've got a parker DE and shavette to get the job done until I decide on how deep I want to dive. I could see using both regularily, even if I get my straight to a useable state.

Its too bad, there was a number of vintage Japanese blades that went through ebay a few days ago. Theyre all pricey!! I'm sticking to the feather replacement blades. A nice Japanese straight would be great down teh road though.

Thanks for the reply.

Hi Ryan and welcome to SRP.

I'm also fairly new to straight razor shaving but I want to give you another tip about prepping before the shave.
I decided today to try using cold water instead of a hot shower as discussed in another place on the forum according to an old shaving pamphlet. So my procedure was that I filled my bowl with cold water and stuck my brush into it, added a little water to my shaving soap and let it sit for a while. In the meantime I used some cold water to just clean my face a little. I then poured out the water just leaving a little in the bottom and squeezed the excess water from my brush. Then build up the lather as usual and applying it to my face. I then rubbed it in good with my finger tips before adding another layer on top of that.

So far this is my best and closest shave yet. Not quite as enjoyable as the hot shower treatment since you are using cold water but the shave it self was great.

The only thing that didn't quite work for me was getting a good lather. I know exactly how to achieve it using hot water but it is a whole other story when using cold water. But I did manage to get a good lather in the end. Also it seemed like the brush didn't soak up the same amount of water as it does when it is warm.